Vettel sets record for pole positions in a season

CHRONICLE NEWS SERVICES

November 26, 2011

Photo: Victor R. Caivano

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany waves after making the pole position at the Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday Nov. 26, 2011. The Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany waves after making the...

SAO PAULO - Two-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel made history again Saturday, breaking Nigel Mansell's 19-year record for the most pole positions in a season.

One year after becoming the youngest driver to win the F1 championship, the German captured his 15th pole at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday to surpass the mark Mansell set in 1992.

"Obviously it took the master in that discipline a couple of races less, but very special to me and just happy to be here," said Vettel, 24, who was 23 when he won the 2010 title for Red Bull.

Mansell set the record with Williams in a 16-race season in which he also won nine races to capture his only F1 drivers' title. He only failed to start from the pole at the Canadian and Hungarian GPs that year. He had six consecutive poles to start the season and five straight to finish.

Vettel broke the record in 19 races. He only failed to win the pole in Spain, England, Germany and South Korea. His worst starting position was third, in Germany.

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